When people's ears itch...

Verse for the week:  I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20.2-3

Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God, graciously look upon your church, for you alone are our strength and our salvation.  Uphold us with your hand, that we may not stumble and fall; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd  ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.220). 

Bible reading for the day:  II Timothy 4.1-5 (note: today’s reading picks up right where Paul left off yesterday. People who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. When this occurs, when evil people go from bad to worse, here’s what you and I are to do)

¹ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious and almighty Father, you made my ears and you know exactly what they need in them: your living Word, Jesus… He is forgiveness, true life, and salvation for me. Thank you! Send us preachers of sound doctrine and repent me and my congregation of ears that itch for teaching that suits our own passions. With open Bibles in our homes six days and your Word in our ears and mouths on Sunday, we have the promise of your Holy Spirit and all we need to do the work of evangelists, to preach the word with complete patience… trusting in Jesus, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onJLwQS8dR0

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean?  God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.

How is this done?  God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father!  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.  Amen.  II Cor 13.14

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:
T: thanksgiving
R: regret (repentance)
I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
P: plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.